Technology in the Crimean War

Technology in theCrimean WarOctober 1853 February 1856 Ginah, Isabella, Simran & David The Crimean WarCrimean War Key StatsDate:October 1853 February 1856Location:Black Sea, Crimean Peninsula, BalkansSides:The Russian empire VS Great Britain, France, Ottoman Empire, Kingdom of SardiniaArmies:Russia 710,000 of which 220,000 died.Allies 1,000,000 of which between 350,000 and 375,000 died.

The Allies - especially GB were much more industrially advanced than their Russian opponents eg GB had 20% of the entire manufacturing output of the world in 1850s compared with under 7% for Russia (8% for France). GB which had pioneered railways, roads, manufacturing, steam ships etc Russia seemed archaic compared to this. GB and the Allies were able to translate this into military technology which helped win the war.These developments changed the nature of warfare - and overall they added defensive power to the Allies and enables them to move men and supplies quickly and efficiently over thousands of miles.

At sea The supremacy of steam driven iron clad ships (as opposed to Russias wooden fleet) was demonstrated The Anglo-French fleets took command of the Baltic Sea in the north, destroying the key fortress of Bomarsund in the process. The Allies also completely destroyed the Russian fleet in the Black sea and Sea of Azov which gave them control of the routes to and from the Crimea.

Rifled Artillery developed By GB and France they had much greater range and power and this was demonstrated in the long siege of Sevastopol whose defences were devastated in one 3 day bombardment by French artillery in 1856. This was a new kind of warfare which was based on a war of position - static siege warfare (replicated in ww1).

Most of all it was the Allied superiority in infantry weapons which won the main battles and decided the outcome of the war; The percussion rifle a recent invention and the minie bullet which could be loaded much more quickly and increase the rate of fire.. These proved devastating against Russian old style Napoleonic column charges the attackers were simply down by rapid rifle fire New weapons technology had give the advantage to the defence. At Inkerman the Russians lost 4 times the British casualties because of the new weapons.They had changed the nature of warfare and given the advantage to the defender. Using these tactics the allies inflicted massive casualties.

NON MILITARY TECHNOLOGYThe allies also had a massive advantage in this.

The use of steam ships to get men and supplies to the war zone in just under 3 weeks it took 3 months for Russian soldiers to march across Russian and arrive in the Crimea without the aid of railways or good roads. This gave the Allies a massive advantage (logistics the movement of men and supplies in wartime).They built a railway in the Crimea itself 25 miles of track linking the supply port of Balaklava with the siege troops at Sevastopol. Russia did not have the capacity to do this.The use of telegraph meant that London and Paris could be in constant touch with the commanders at the front (the French leader Napoleon III often interfered in the plans of the French commanders on the spot). This gave a great advantage to the Allies superior communications. Orders could be given in minutes across 3,000 miles.

BUT: After driving the Russian army out of a strong position north of Sevastop, the lAlies failed to capitalise on this victory and the delays in further advances on Sevastopol afforded Russia time to fortify the city and stage attacks of their own. One of these attacks was on 24 October 1854 in the Battle of Balaclava; it is here that the infamous Charge of the Light Brigade took place. Heavy damage was done to both sides in a battle that was marred by miscommunication; the Light Brigade was given the wrong orders, meaning it attacked the wrong artillery battery a well-prepared one rather than a retreating line resulting in heavy casualties.

LEADERSHIPBRITAIN:

Poor leadership blighted the allies progress; they failed to follow up on their relative success against the much larger Russian forces at the Battle of Balaclava, which allowed Russia to regroup ahead of the even more bloody Battle of Inkerman.

Some Allied Leaders failed to make good use of their obvious technological advantage (e.g. generals like Raglan who were still fighting the Napoleonic wars methods of warfare like heroic cavalry charges (suicidal against modern weapons) which led to the disaster of the Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaklava against artillery which devastated it losing the men. Column attacks by massed ranks of infantry proved to be the perfect targets for the new rifles and artillery).

The legend of Napoleonic tactics was more powerful than modern weapons. - BrowningThe Allies failed to storm Sevastopol in 1854 when they could have taken it easily.They only really appreciated the power of modern artillery to break a siege in 1956 (after two years of war!)RUSSIA:

At Inkerman, the Russians attempted to lift the siege on Sevastopol by attacking allied troops but foggy weather hampered any chances of an organised attack . As a result, the battle is referred to as The Soldiers Battle because they were left to fight on their own initiative.The Russian army of 42,000 men marched on the much smaller allied army (15,700) and, despite waves of attacks, the smaller ally forces stood their ground in a military display that has become celebrated for the training and professionalism of the troops.One Russian shortcoming was the purportedly widespread alcoholism of the Russian army; it was commonplace for troops and generals to drink heavily before, during and after battles, so much so that some historians have even claimed that army commanders drunkenly ordered attacks on their own soldiers while under the influence.A lack of experience and organisation also plagued Russias military campaigns throughout the war; there were several occasions such as the Battle of the Chernaya and the Battles of Balaclava and Inkerman when they outnumbered their opposition but failed to capitalise on the numeric advantage. The generals propensity to attack impetuously (coupled with the inferior skills and equipment of the Russian soldiers) meant the allied forces were consistently able to overcome the larger Russian army.

Crimean War is notorious for its medical failings, with the vast majority of deaths coming as a result of injuries and disease rather than death on the battlefield.

DID ECONOMIC RESOURCES AND TECHNOLOGY DETERMINE THE NATURE AND OUTCOME OF THE WAR?

The Russians thought so their ruler Alexander II launched an enquiry and concluded that Allied economic and technological superiority had enabled them to travel 3000 miles and defeat the Russian army on its own soil.As a result, the Russians aimed to industrialise rapidly in order to catch up.

ORGANISATION / COMPOSITION OF ARMIES

The disorganisation of the Allies made the war much longer and caused many unnecessary casualties - the war was notorious for the appalling treatment of the sick and wounded which may have accounted for up to 4/5 of the casualties and required the intervention of public opinion and Florence Nightingale to try to force the government to address this issue.What saved the Allies is that the Russians were even more disorganised.

MORALEDespite appalling conditions and disorganisation, morale and discipline was high on the Allied side because the soldiers were professional volunteers who were buoyed by national consciousness (patriotism) to motivate them.Russians soldiers tended to be illiterate peasants who were brutalised by their commanders and their motivation was fear not patriotism. They would usually break well before the Allies did.